EconMin: Prerequisites in place for production of NATO-grade weapons to start in Cugir

 Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Stefan-Radu Oprea declared on Thursday in Cugir that "all the prerequisites" are in place for the two weapons factories in the city - the Arms Factory and the Cugir Mechanical Plant to start producing progressively more NATO-grade weapons."I believe that now, following the legislative changes introduced, the enforcement of the new industrial cooperation law, and under the strategy for the national defense industry which will be approved at the next government meeting, all the prerequisites are in place for both the Cugir Arms Factory and the Cugir Mechanical Plant to start producing increasingly more NATO-grade weapons," Stefan-Radu Oprea said as he attended an event dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the local Mechanical Plant.The minister added that there are advanced discussions with several companies vetted for technology transfer and assured that no deal will be concluded without a substantial technology transfer to Romania, meaning that the war supplies will be produced domestically.Among others, Oprea referred to the project providing for ROMARM factories to produce 120-155 mm ammunition following the creation of a Center of Excellence for Abrams tank ammunition, and according to which Romania is set to become the only manufacturer of Abrams tank ammo in Europe, and implicitly a leading exporter to all of Europe and beyond.*** The 5.56 mm assault rifle the Cugir Arms Factory intends to develop under a project initiated more than a decade ago is in the completed industrial prototype stage and is now awaiting approval according to NATO standards.Cugir Arms Factory general director Radu Coroama offered on Thursday the press more details about the 5.56 mm assault weapon developed in cooperation with Bucharest-based company Stimpex."The rifle is at the stage of completed industrial prototype, that is, its entire configuration has been established, and the tests specific to the prototype stage have been fully completed. There were some small changes, some minor adjustments. At the moment, a new weapon is being built from scratch, that is, all the parts are machined and the technological process for the serial production of the weapon is established. The rifle will then enter the approval procedure according to NATO Standard D 14. After that, it will be offered to the forces of the national defense system, NATO partners and to anyone interested," said Radu Coroama, who added that the approval phase is planned to take six months.